Recalling Freddie Solomon’s QB adventure

Freddie Solomon played wide receiver for the 49ers, but in his heart, he was a quarterback. He finally got his chance at the end of the wretched 1978 season.

Mr. Solomon, who died Monday of colon and liver cancer, was the leading receiver on that 2-14 team. General manager Joe Thomas had fired head coach Pete McCulley nine games into the season and replaced him with offensive coordinator Fred O’Connor.

The finale against the Detroit Lions at the Pontiac Silverdome was one of the most embarrassing games in 49ers’ history – and certainly the most bizarre. The 49ers fumbled 10 times, losing four. They lost the ball on a muffed punt and threw three interceptions in a 33-14 loss that was not as close as the score indicated.

What kept the game from being a complete farce was Mr. Solomon’s turn at quarterback. Starter Steve DeBerg and backup Scott Bull both got hurt, and O’Connor at first turned to defensive back Bruce Threadgill, who had played quarterback in Canada.

Threadgill had a broken hand, but the team was desperate. He had to be taken into the locker room so the trainers could cut the cast off his hand to allow him to take the snaps. Cast-free, he threw two passes; both were intercepted.

With nowhere else to turn, O’Connor gave the nod to Mr. Solomon, who had been a marvelous option quarterback at the University of Tampa.

Mr. Solomon danced around Lions tacklers for 42 yards and passed for 85 more. When he scored on an 11-yard run, Lions fans gave him an appreciative cheer.

The season mercifully ended that day. Thomas, under considerable fire, gushed, “I can’t remember a team I’ve been more impressed with. In two years, they’ll be at the top.”

They did make it to the top, in three years, not two. But not with Thomas. The game against the Lions was his last with the 49ers. Owner Eddie DeBartolo cleaned house and hired Bill Walsh.